Conservationists vow to sabotage WA shark kill policy

Updated
December 30, 2013 09:09:00

Western Australia's shark killing policy is continuing to anger local conservationists. One group says it will sabotage the Government's catch and kill plan, but the WA Premier is warning that's against the law.

TONY EASTLEY: Western Australia's shark killing policy is continuing to anger local conservationists.

One group says it will sabotage the Government's catch and kill plan, but the WA Premier is warning what they are planning is against the law.

From Perth, Caitlyn Gribbin.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: There's been seven fatal shark attacks in WA over the past three years.

In response, the State Government announced recently that baited drum lines would be used to catch and kill sharks in WA waters over the next four months.

Sharks bigger than three metres will be caught and shot by commercial fishermen, including great whites, which are a protected species.

It's a plan that has angered conservationists like Ross Weir.

ROSS WEIR: A knee-jerk reaction and we'll be doing whatever we can to document and prevent that from occurring.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: Mr Weir is the founder of West Australians for Shark Conservation.

He says he has support to intervene in the catch and kill policy from conservation group Animal Rescue Team and from WA locals.

ROSS WEIR: We're asking members of the public who are passionate about this issue to take their boats out when a shark of over three metres is sighted, to simply drop anchor a minimum distance of 50 metres away from the drum line, take footage of these commercial fishermen killing these sharks.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: Would they physically try to stop the fisherman from taking the shark?

ROSS WEIR: I can't elaborate on that, I'm sorry.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: State law prevents that type of interference. Under WA's Fish Resources Management Act, an individual who interferes with fish or gear can face a fine of up to $25,000 or 12 months jail.

When asked about the conservationists' plans, WA Premier Colin Barnett was unequivocal.

COLIN BARNETT: Well if they do that they will be prosecuted. We don't want the general public getting close to these situations, for own safety if nothing else.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: Ross Weir says the intervention won't be violent.

ROSS WEIR: The ultimate goal of this plan would be to have the Government rescind the catch and kill portion of the imminent threat policy. We have all the alternatives available to us, in terms of education, research and prevention. These three key things are what has been shown in the past to contribute to a situation like this and reduce shark attacks.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: But despite those, there's been seven fatalities in three years and the Premier Colin Barnett says that he has to act on that.

ROSS WEIR: Look at the end of the day we are entering the ocean, we are going into the sharks' domain; it's not the other way around.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: The Department of Fisheries spokesman Tony Cappelluti says protesters have been warned not to interfere.

TONY CAPPELLUTI: Department of Transport have a role in ensuring that the drum lines aren't interfered with; if people are planning to interfere with the gear, I suggest they probably wouldn't.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: But Ross Weir says he's desperate to make a stance.

(to Ross Weir)

Are you aware that it's against the law to intervene in this plan?

ROSS WEIR: Yes I am.

CAITLYN GRIBBIN: Are you willing to break the law for this?

ROSS WEIR: We are willing to do whatever it takes to document and prevent the killing of endangered sharks.

TONY EASTLEY: Ross Weir from the group West Australians for Shark Conservation, Caitlyn Gribbin our reporter.